Summer 2008
From the Chair
New members
Sci Comm news
Eurochat
Feature: Publicising non peer-reviewed science
Feature: New media, new opportunities
Feature: Spinning science
Event Report: Science and the embargo
Event Report: Podcasting and new media
Interview: Emma Morton, The Sun
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Stempra newsletter
From the Chair
It's been a hectic time for those of you involved in any work
concerning the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. The row over
the creation of human admixed embryos has played out extensively in the
media over the last few months. While science correspondents have been
covering what is pretty complex science with admirable skill and
accuracy for a long time, some of the coverage over Easter weekend did
feel as if we were gong right back to square one.
One positive outcome over the furore caused by Cardinal Keith
O'Brien's comments about science of 'Frankenstein proportions' was a
letter by Colin Blakemore to The Times offering to broker a meeting
between faith leaders and stem cell scientists. In the end there was an
event, described as a conversation, hosted in the Wellcome Collection
in London. While most of the media attention has focused on the
Catholic Church's point of view, many other faith leaders participated
in this including the Anglican Church, Hindus, Muslims and indeed the
Quakers. It was a genuinely thoughtful and respectful discussion and
excellently chaired by the Today programme presenter, Ed Stourton. You
can view the event in full as a webcast at www.wellcome.ac.uk
MPs eventually voted 336 to 176 against an amendment to the
draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill, which would have
prevented researchers creating 'human admixed embryos', cells
containing animal and human material. MPs also voted against a ban on
'saviour siblings' - babies born from embryos selected to offer a
tissue match for a sick brother or sister - and also against a number
of attempts to reduce the legal limit for abortions from the current 24
weeks.
Many scientists and press officers have gone the extra mile to
give up their time to field case studies, give interviews and brief
general reporters who were coming to the story fresh. I think this is
one area where collaboration really helped shape the quality of the
story and a special mention to the efforts of the SMC who brought all
press officers under one roof on a regular basis to share activities
and ideas.
MPs are expected to debate the complete HFE Bill in early
June, following detailed discussion in Committee. If successful, the
Bill will then return to the House of Lords for approval. So, plenty of
work still to do.
The Stempra committee is in the process of drawing up a new
events programme for the coming year. We have attached a draft outline
in this newsletter but we'd really like to hear from members who have
suggestions so do email us with any ideas. Likewise, if there's a
specific event you'd really like us to try and organise then let us
know. We are also taking suggestions for our annual Christmas 'In
conversation with...' so if there's someone you'd like to see
interviewed, then email us and we'll do our best!
Finally, it was good to see so many of you at the recent BA
Science Communication conference, which ran a great series of workshops
and discussions over two days. In the Stempra sessions, we made the
first in-roads into developing a set of 'good practice' guidelines for
science press officers. A small working group from the Stempra
committee are taking this forward and we hope to be able to share a
first draft of this with members soon.
Katrina Nevin-Ridley
Chair of Stempra
chair@stempra.org.uk
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